Skins recommendations and your hands

[Anonimo]

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[Mike]

I know many of you don't think of this as a fact but it has been proven for many years just no one put's to use and like to experiment with sound.

I politely beg to partially disagree, having used cow skin and mule skin in various combinations on all my congas and bongos.
Your personal experience regarding hand injury is highly useful for those hard hitters out there indeed though,
but one should not forget that technique, drum construction (e.g. bearing edge shape) and the tension of the skin might affect your hands in a positive or painful way too.
Besides, IMHO mule skin that is broken in thoroughly can have that velvet feel and resonate freely without being too hard on your hands and cowskin, on the other hand, can be quite tough too. All depending on thickness as well.

[Anonimo]

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[Mike]

Improper technique might be the main reason for most pain, you have got a point there.

The only thing I cannot really understand is why you are so dogmatic about mule skins,
ask two congueros and you get three opinions...
Anyway, to me at least mule skin is not quite the hand-destroying monster - and of course
I was talking about dried mule skins
But again, everyone his own.

[Anonimo]

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[pcastag]

Yes, mule is tougher, that's why I thik people prefer the belly, mule belly has a softer texture and feel. I love the mule skin i have on my gon bops quinto (103/4"') it give a perfert sound for repicando, but I'm not sure if I'd want it on my conga or tumba.
PC

[caballoballo]

I agreed with Leedy, mule is harder to the hand if too thick. Also agreed about the breaking period, I do not think there is such. I have mount thick (1/8") skins on Bongos hembra which sound good even been wet and viceversa. Also there is not that much difference sound wise between cow and mule skins.

The bearing edge is worse on mass produce specially on LP Bongos including the Dandy which has an almost flat surface. The giovanny model is worse with a too sharp bearing edge. Once I was call to the stage by a friend Bongocero who has a giovanny and I asked myself, how can he play with this Bongó ? Don't know why they are made like that because other Manufacturers including the Boutique types use a more or totally round bearing edge which is more comfortable and better sound during martillo.

[pcastag]

My 85 LP generation 2's have a very nice rounded edge on them.
PC